SAN FRANCISCO– Today the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) came one step closer to its permanent home with the signing of a certification agreement on terms provided by the city. The document was signed at City Hall by Mayor Gavin Newsom, representing the City of San Francisco, and Robert Klein, Chairman of the Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee.

“We are proud that the CIRM has chosen to call San Francisco home,” said Mayor Newsom. “Our city has a deep commitment to, and affinity for, the scientists and health care professionals who are leading the search for cures to our world’s most challenging diseases. Today’s signing reflects our commitment to making sure their mission to fund stem cell research moves forward.”

The certification agreement between the city and CIRM guarantees the incentives offered in the San Francisco bid aside from the office space at 250 King Street. The city’s package included free hotel and conference facilities, with architectural design donated by Gensler and construction provided by Hathaway Dinwiddie. The building’s owner, Terry Francher, and the Department of General Services officially executed the lease for the space earlier this week. The CIRM is expected to move into the headquarters this fall. “This is a great day for stem cell research. We will remain grateful to the city of San Francisco for its unprecedented support, and thanks to their generous bid, millions of additional dollars can go directly to the research,” said Klein. “The benefits of our program will soon be felt throughout California as grants begin to be disbursed to researchers across the state. Researchers from San Diego to Davis will soon be moving us closer to cures and therapies for chronic disease.”

As part of a bidding process to determine the location of its permanent headquarters, CIRM asked local governments, working in partnership with building owners, to provide approximately 17,000 square feet of office space at little or no cost. San Francisco was selected as the permanent headquarters by the ICOC on the May 6 meeting in Fresno.